Smart Breeding

Marker-Assisted Selection:

A non-invasive biotechnology alternative to genetic engineering
of plant varieties.

While genetically-engineered plants have gained much public attention, another modern breeding technique called MAS (marker-assisted selection) has gone through a silent revolution in recent years.

MAS is a technique that does not replace traditional breeding, but can help to make it more efficient. It does not include the transfer of isolated gene sequences such as genetic engineering, but offers tools for targeted selection of the existing plant material for further breeding.

MAS has already proven to be a valuable tool for plant breeders: it requires less investment, raises fewer safety concerns, respects species barriers, and is accepted by the public. This report highlights dozens of examples of already marketed MAS-bredvarieties, demonstrating its high potential to meet challenges such as a changing climate, disease resistance or higher nutritional qualities.

In contrast, genetic engineering - even after 25 years of global efforts - has basically onlydelivered two single-trait types of plants: herbicide-tolerant and pest-resistant.